Abuja: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has initiated a specialised skills development programme aimed at empowering Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja with entrepreneurial and vocational skills to foster self-reliance and economic inclusion.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Philip Udeochu, SMEDAN’s Acting Director of Policy Planning, Research, and Statistics, announced the programme’s commencement during a training session in Abuja. He highlighted that the initiative is part of the agency’s strategy to integrate vulnerable groups into the nation’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) development agenda.
Udeochu noted that the programme targets four categories of vulnerable persons: retirees, prison inmates, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons. The current training focuses on IDPs, combining entrepreneurship education with practical skills in phone repairs and maintenance.
He emphasized that participants will first undergo entrepreneurship training to cultivate a business mindset, followed by hands-on training from master trainers in phone repairs. Beneficiaries will be assessed and provided with essential tools and equipment to start their businesses. Udeochu assured that the programme will not end with training, as continuous mentorship will be offered.
Future training sessions will target other vulnerable groups, subject to resource availability. Participants in the entrepreneurship sessions are educated on identifying business opportunities, basic marketing strategies, and maintaining profitable business relationships. Facilitators encourage developing an entrepreneurial mindset by identifying overlooked opportunities and emphasizing focus and persistence.
Mr. Ikilowe Eric, a participant with a physical disability, expressed gratitude to SMEDAN, noting that phone repair is an accessible vocation for persons with disabilities. He aims to establish his phone repair shop within six months and hopes to train others in the future. Another participant, Mr. Zeyano Abubakar, expressed optimism about the training’s potential to enable his success.
The programme is part of SMEDAN’s broader initiative to promote inclusive economic growth by equipping vulnerable groups with skills that generate sustainable livelihoods.